Method of applying fittings to stranded structures



June 30, 1931. G, c. BURD I 1,812,646

METHOD OF APPL YING FITTINGS TO STRANDED STRUCTURES Filed April 5, 1930s sheets-511m 1 I N V EN TOR. 60/? 50/?0 ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. a. c.BURD 1,812,646

union or APPLYING m'rhues TO STRANDED STRUCTURES Filed April 3,1930 5Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

' 60mm 66mm ATTORNEY June 30, 1931 G, c, UR'D 1,812,646

METHOD OF APPLYING FITTINGS TO STRANDED STRUCTURES Filed April 3, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY Patented June 30,

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GORMAIN C. BURT), OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN,ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CABLE COMPANY,

INC .A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE mi'rnon or" APPLYING rrr rmes To sTRANDnnsTRUcTUREs Application filed April 3,

My invention relates to a process of cutting sections from a continuouslength of flexible tubing, cable, or the like and applyingv fit- I tingsto the cut ends.

The invention is particularly adapted for use on structures composed ofcoiled members which are liable to expand or become disarranged at thepoint where the structure is severed, and it has for an object toprovide I a method of binding tlieends of the structure to preserve theintegrity thereof. A specific application of my invention is to be foundin the cutting and binding of flexible tubing such as used forBowden-wire casings. In certain structures, the casingis formed oflongitudinal wire members held in place between inner and outer looselycoiled helices. When such a'casing is out, the ends of the wires are aptto spring open and the longitudinal members in particular are apt tobecome disarranged, unless means are provided-for retaining them indesired position. v i

My invention provides a method for temporarily holding the ends of thewires in proper relative position when the casing is out and thenapplying ferrules or fittings over the cut ends so that they will bepermanently bound in place. The fittings applied to the casing serve notonly to preserve the integrity of the structure but may alsoprovideattachment means for the casing or may serve as supports for elementsassociated with the casing.

In a copending. application Serial No. 399,125,-filed October 12, 1929,I describe a method of and means for cutting oif stranded wire membersfrom a continuous length, and applying ferrules to the cut ends. In said59 is then out in two, leaving a length thereof application, I describea specific embodiment 1930. Serial No. 441,289.

fittings of difierent form can be used. on the opposite ends of thestructure, also such fittings may be previously finished all over as byplating or polishing, so that they will show no out edges. '1

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in thefollowing description taken with the drawings forming part of thepresent application, and thereafter the novelty and scope of theinvention will be, pointed out in the claims.

In the, accompanying drawings;

' Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of certain apparatus which may beused in carrying out my im roved process;

ig. 2 is a ragmentary plan view ofihe same'with a piece of the work inposition to be severed;

v Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2 but with the work removed.

Fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of a stranded tubular casingprovided with a pair of fittings secured respectively to opposite endsof the casing; and

Figs. 5 to 11 inclusive illustrate various steps in the process ofapplying the fittings to the opposed cut ends of the stranded tubularcasing. A

As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus employed in carryin out my process ismounted on a bench 14. ecured to and rising from the bench H are twoopposed-brackets 15 and 16 respectively. The bracket 15 providesbearings 17 for a pair of rods or studs 18 which are connected by across-head 19. The

Studs 18 are slidable in the bearings 17 and may be fixed at any desiredadjustment therein by means of set screws 20. Thusthe crosshead 19 isnormally fixed.

The bracket 16 is similarly provided with bearings 21 which providesliding support for a pair of rods 22 which are connected by across-head 23. The latter is adapted to be moved toward and from thefixed cross-head 19. vThe outer free ends of the rods 22 are pivotallyconnected to the upper end of a' lever 24. This lever passes through aslot in the bench 14 and is fulcrumed on one end of a link 25, the otherend of which is pivotally connected to a. bracket 26 depending from theunderside of the bench 14. The lower end of the arm 24 is pivotallyconnected to the stem 27 of a plunger which slides in a c linder 28. Thecylinder is provided with trunnions 29 whlch are journaled in thebracket 26 and by means, not shown, fluid under pressure may be admittedto the cylinder 28 on one side to force the plunger stem 27 outward andon the other side to draw the stem inward. By this means, the lever 24is oscillated on its fulcrum causing the cross-head 23 to move towardand from the cross-head 19.

The bracket 15 is formed with a slot 30 (Fig. 2) between the bearings17, and the bracket 16 is formed with a corresponding and aligned slot31 between the bearings 21. Similarly the cross-heads 19 and 23-areprovided with slots 32 and 33, respectively, which are aligned with theslots 30 and 31. These ali ed slots are provided to receive a length ogthe tubular casing 34 which is to be cut. One of the pivot'pinsconnecting the rods 22 to the lever 24 has an extension 35 which runsparallel to the tubular casing and is supported near its outerend in abracket 35a rising from the bench 14.

Adjustably mounted on the rod 35 is a stop member 36 which servesas agage for the length of casing that is to be cut off by. the apparatus.This gage moves with the rods 22 and cross-head 23.

Mounted to slide horizontally and transversely to the casing 34 in thecross-head 19, are two pairs of jaws 37 and 38 and similarly two pairsof opposed jaws 39 and 40 are mounted in the cross-head 23. Each ofthese jaws is provided with a jaw-facing formed with a semicylindricalrecess. The recesses in the jaws 37 and 39 are adapted to fit snugly onthe tubular casing 34, while the recesses of the jaws 38 and 40 are oflarger diameter so as to fit on a split bushing 41 which is applied tothe 'casing 34. The bushing 41 may consist of two semicylindricalsections or it may consist of a single piece slit at one side, so thatit may be spread open to fit over the casing 34 and then be closed uponsaid casing.

As shown in Fig. 4 the casing 34 consists of a series of longitudinalwire members which are spirally laid with a comparatively long pitch andare held in place betweerran inner spiral coil not shown, and by anouterf; spiral coil 42. The split bushing 41 is formed with a spiralcorrugation so as to fit over and between the coils of the spiral member42. 7

the opposite end of the opposed jaw 39. It

will be obvious that when the handle 45 is moved to the horizontalposition shown in Fig. 3, the twojaws 39 will be moved inward togripping position and when the handle is swun downward the jaws will bemoved apart. gimilarly, the other jaws are provided with operatinghandles and links. The handle 47 controls the jaws 40 and the handles 48and 49 control the jaws 37 and 38 respectively.

As Qaown in Fig. 4, the casing 34 is adapted to have a ferrule orfitting 50 secured to one end thereof and a fitting 51 secured to theother end. The fitting 50 is formed with a sleeve portion which fitsover the bushing 41 and with an outwardly projecting ta red nose portion52. The fitting 51 is similarly provided with a sleeveportion which fitsover the bushing 41 and has an outwardly proj ecting tubular extension53 of reduced diameter. The fitting 51 is applied to the end of thecasing 34 before it is severed from the stock and the fitting 50 isapplied to the rear end of the casin section immediately after it hasbeen cut 0 from the stock.

The method of applying the fittings to the casings is illustrated inFigs. 5 to 11, inclusive. The jaws 37, 38, 39 and 40 are opened and thecross-head 23 is moved toward the right by admitting fluid into thecylinder 28. The stock 34 is drawn through the aligned slots in thebrackets and the cross-heads until the fittin 51 strikes against thestop 36. Then the aws 39 are closed upon the stock as indicated in Fig.5. A split bushing 41 is fitted over the stock and abutted against thejaws 39 after which the jaws 40 are closed upon the bushing, clamping itfirmly to the stock, as in Fig. 6. Fluid is then admitted to thecylinder 28 to force the cross-head 23 toward the cross-head 19 andthereafter the jaws 37 and 38 are closed. As shown in.Fig.

the jaws 38 will clamp the bushing 41 and the jaws 37 will grip thestock and abut against the rear end of the bushing. By means of a cutter54, a cut is made through the bushing and the stock, leaving a portionof the bushing on each cut end with a part projecting from each air ofjaws 38 and 40. The cross-head 23 is t en moved away from the cross-head19. A holder 55 is used to hold the fitting 50 as it is applied to thesection of casing held between the jaws 40 and 39. This holder is formedwith a tapered opening to receive the nose 52 of the fitting 50 and hasa shoulder 56 adapted to bear against a shoulder 57 of said fitting. Theholder is also formed with a recess 58 to clear the stock held by thejaws 38 so that it can be abutted against the side of said jaws, asillustrated in Fig. 8. The cross-head 23 is now againmoved toward thecross-head 19 by admitting fluid into the cylinder 28 thereby forcingthe hushed end of the casing section into the, sleeve portion of thefitting 50. As soon as the hushed end has entered the fitting, the jaws40 are opened so as to clear said fitting, and the parts then assume theposition shown in Fig. 9 with the fitting 50 forced tightly on thehushed rear end of the casing section 34. The cross-head 23 is thenwithdrawn toward the right and the casing section isremoved from thejaws 39.

A holder 60 is used in applying the fitting 51 to the hushed end of thestock held in the jaws 38 and 37 This holder is a tubular member whichfits over the part 53 and abuts against a shoulder 61 of the fitting 51.The holder 60 is formed with a reduced extension 62 adapted to beengaged by the jaws 40 in the manner illustrated in Fig. .10. The jaws39 are left open but all of the other jaws are closed. The cross-head 23is then moved toward the cross-head 19 to force the sleeve portion ofthe fitting 51 upon the hushed end of the stock held in the jaws 38. Assoon as said hushed end has entered the fitting 51, the jaws 38 areopened to clear the bushing 41 while the latter is forced home on thehushed end of the stock. This completes a cycle of operations, and itwill be noted that in each cycle a fitting 50 is applied to the rear endof the casing section which has been severed from the stock and afitting 51 is applied to the hushed end of the stock.

Initially the stock is bound at the end by means of a wire wrapping, soas to keep the parts thereof from flaring outward or becoming displaced,and to apply the first fitting 51 on the end of the stock, theoperations shown in Fig- 6, 7, 10 and .11 are carried out omitting theoperations shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The portion of wire-bound stock andthe half-bushing 4:1 which remain in the jaws 39 and 40 after thesevering operation are thrown away. To avoid cutting the bushing andwasting half'of it when applying the initial fitting to the stock a halflength bushing can he clamped aboutthe stock in the jaws 38 prior to thesevering operation.

While I have described my invention as applied to a particular form ofcasing and fitting therefor, it will be obvious that the same processcould he used with stranded structures that are not hollow and also withstructures made of coiled ribbon stock as well as wire structures. Itwill, therefore, he understood that the description given above is to betaken as illustrative and not limitative of my invention, and that I amat liberty to make such changes in form, con-- struction and mode ofprocedure as fall within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In the method of cutting off sections from a stock of strandedstructure and applying fittingsto the out ends, the steps which consistin applying a bushing about.

the stock where it is to-be severed," clamping the bushing thereon,severing the bushing and the stock to leave a portion of the bushing oneach cut end, separating the hushed ends, and applying a fitting on eachof said hushed ends separately.

2. In the method of cutting off sections from a stock of strandedstructure and applying fittings to the cut ends, the steps which consistin applying a bushing about the stock where it is to be severed,clamping the bushing thereon at each side of the point where the stockis to be severed, severing the bushing and the stock at said point toleave a portion of the bushing on each cut end, separating the hushedends, applying a fitting on each of said hushed ends separately, andunclamping each of said hushed ends while the fitting isbeing forcedthereon.

3. In the method of cutting off sections from a stock of strandedstructure and ap-. plying fittings to the cut ends, the steps whichconsist in applying a bushing about the stock where it is to be severed,clamping the hushing thereon at each side of the point where the stockis to be severed, severing the hushing and the stock at said point toleave a portion of the bushing on each cut end, se arating the hushedends, introducing a fitting between said ends, approaching said ends toforce the fitting on one of said ends, simultaneousl unclamping thebushing portion on whic the fitting is being forced, again separatingthe ends, and applying a fitting on the other of said ends.

4. In, the method of cutting off sections from a stock of strandedstructure and applying fittings to the cut ends, the steps whichconsists in applying a bushing about the stock where it is to hesevered, clamping the bushing thereon at each side of the point wherethe stock is to be severed, severing the bushing and the stock at saidoint to leave a portion of the bushing on eac cut end, withdrawing thesevered section from the stock without unclampin the bushing portion onsaid section, intro ucing a fitting between said section and the stock,advancing said section toward the stock to force the fitting on thesevered section, simultaneously unclamping the bushing portion on whichthe fitting is being forced, again withdrawing said section from thestock and applying a fitting on.

from a stock of stranded structure and applying fittings to the cutends, the steps which consist in applying a bushing about the stockwhere it is to be severed, clamping the bushing thereon at each side ofthe point where the stock is to be severed, severing the bushing and thestock at said point to leave a portion of the bushingon each cut end,with drawing the severed section from the stock, introducing a fittingbetween the freshly cut ends, approaching said ends to force the fittinon the severed section, simultaneousl unc am ing the bushing portion onwhic the fitting is being forced, protecting the freshly cutend of thestock from pressure by the fittin as the two ends are approached, againwith rawing the severed section, and applying a fitting on the freshlycut end of the stoc 6'. In the method of cutting ofi' sections from astock of stranded structure and applying fittings to the cut ends, thesteps which consists in applying a bushing about the stock where it isto be severed, clamping the bushing thereon at each side of the pointwhere the stock is to be severed, severing the bushing and the stock atsaid point to leave a portion of the bushing on each severed end,separating the cut ends applying a fitting on the freshl cut end of these ered section,

' simultaneous y unclamping the bushing portion on said end, removingthe severed secti0n,'and applying another fitting on the freshly cut endof the stock. v

7. In the method of cutting off sections from a stock of strandedstructure and applying fittings to the cut ends, the steps which consistin applying a bushing about the stock where it is to be severed,clamping the bushing thereon at each side of the point where the stockis to be severed, severing the bushing and the stock at said point,withdrawing the severed section from the stock, introducing a fittingbetween said ends, providing a fixed support for the fitting, 'approachmsaid ends to force the fitting on the severe section, simultaneouslunclamping the bushing portion on whic the fitting is being forced,removing the severed section, placin another fitting in a holder,advancing the ho der toward the freshly cut end of the stock to forcethe latter fitting thereon.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

' GORMAN O. BURD.

